How to Develop a Character in a Novel

To write a novel, you need to first think as a reader. Ad a reader, you know by now that the greatest asset to a novel is neither a highly-contrived plot, or even flowery and descriptive writing. The greatest asset to a novel is well-developed characters that your audience can relate to. This guide will hopefully help you on your way to developing wonderfully real characters that read like a dream.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know your characters. Before you even begin writing paragraphs on a page, you have to know your characters like friends. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were around new people, and someone tells a joke, then you think in the back of your mind, “[your best friend’s name] would think that was so funny”? You need to know your characters that well. What would they find funny? Who are they?

2. Create character files. Before I begin a story, I often create an index card for each of its characters. At the top of that index card, I write the character’s name. Then I make a list:Age/sex:Occupation/ Social status:Location (Neighborhood, City, State):Smoker/Drinker?:Bad habits:Education:Thoughts on Religion:Fondest Memory:Best Friend:Favorite color:Favorite movie:Type of music he/she likes:Favorite food/ drink:Other thoughts:In the “Other thoughts” category, include things such as whether or not your character is an animal lover. What is the worst thing he/ she has ever done? Where would he/she go on vacation if they could? Or, anything else that pertains to the story that you want to tell.

3. Get to know the characters. I like to carry my character files around with me for about a week. Then, when I’m waiting in line at the grocery store, or the bank, or exercising, or waiting in traffic, I take them out and look at them. I spend some time with my beautifully flawed characters, getting to know them like I would if I met them at a coffee shop. The idea is that you grow to know them as though they are real characters, so that you know how they would react in a given situation.

4. A good character description should be written entirely in one sitting. So, try to set aside a couple of hours so that you can write an entire omniscient description of your character. Write it as though you are a guest at a party when this individual enters the room. What are they thinking? What are they feeling? How do those thoughts and feelings portray themselves on his/her face? Get every thought in your head about this character out onto paper at one time. Don’t walk away and try to come back tomorrow, because you will inevitably forget something great that you wanted to say. And don’t edit yourself. The words that you use here are not important yet—after all, you’re the only one reading it. The time for editing is much, much later.